New Jersey Register of Historic Places

New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Name	New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Formed	1970
Jurisdiction	New Jersey
Headquarters	Trenton
Parent department	New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Parent agency	New Jersey Historic Preservation Office
Website	https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/

New Jersey Register of Historic Places. It is the official state list of historic resources worthy of preservation, established under the authority of the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act. The register is administered by the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Listing recognizes a property's significance to the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of New Jersey and provides certain legal protections and incentives.

History and establishment

The register was formally created by the state legislature in 1970 with the passage of the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act, predating the federal National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. This early action reflected a strong statewide commitment to historic preservation led by figures like Richard J. Hughes and advocacy from organizations such as Preservation New Jersey. The enabling legislation was designed to complement the emerging federal system and empower municipal governments through tools like local historic district ordinances. Subsequent amendments, including the 1985 amendments to the state's Municipal Land Use Law, further integrated register listings into local planning and zoning decisions across counties like Bergen County and Mercer County.

Criteria for listing

Properties must generally meet one or more of four criteria related to significant historical events, association with notable persons, distinctive architectural character, or potential to yield important archaeological information. Eligibility requires integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. Examples include sites associated with the American Revolution like the Baylor Massacre site, the industrial legacy of Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, or the architectural works of Stanford White in places like Princeton. Properties less than fifty years old are typically not considered unless of exceptional importance, a standard also used by the National Park Service.

Process for nomination and designation

Nominations can be initiated by property owners, historical societies, government agencies, or the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office itself. A formal nomination packet, including a detailed historical and architectural description, is prepared and reviewed by the staff of the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. The nomination is then evaluated by the New Jersey Historic Sites Council, an appointed body of experts in fields like architecture and archaeology. Following a positive recommendation and a public comment period, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection makes the final designation decision, which is then published in the New Jersey Administrative Code.

Relationship with the National Register of Historic Places

The state and national registers are separate but closely aligned programs. All nominations to the National Register of Historic Places from New Jersey are first reviewed and must be approved by the New Jersey Historic Sites Council, effectively making state listing a prerequisite for federal consideration. However, a property can be listed on the state register independently. The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office serves as the State Historic Preservation Office, managing both programs within the state and ensuring consistency with standards set by the National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior.

Effects and benefits of listing

Listing on the register triggers a review process under the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act for any state-funded, permitted, or licensed project that might adversely affect the property. It makes properties eligible for state preservation grants and low-interest loans, and can provide a basis for local preservation ordinances under the Municipal Land Use Law. Owners of income-producing listed properties may qualify for federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives, while residential owners might access state tax abatement programs. Listing also offers formal recognition and educational value, often increasing public awareness through markers from the Historical Society of New Jersey.

Notable examples of listed properties

The register encompasses a diverse array of over 1,700 properties, including iconic sites like the Atlantic City Boardwalk, the Edison National Historic Site in West Orange, and the Walt Whitman House in Camden. Significant architectural listings range from the Art Deco Landis Theater in Vineland to the Shingle Style Kips Castle in Fair Lawn. Archaeological sites include the Timbuctoo settlement in Westampton Township. Historic districts are also well-represented, such as the Cape May Historic District and the Ringwood Manor estate in Ringwood.

Administration and oversight

Primary administrative responsibility lies with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, a division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection located in Trenton. The office's staff, including historians, architects, and archaeologists, process nominations, provide technical assistance, and oversee compliance. Policy guidance and nomination review are conducted by the eleven-member New Jersey Historic Sites Council, whose members are appointed by the Governor of New Jersey with the advice of the New Jersey Senate. Day-to-day stewardship and enforcement often involve partnerships with county historical societies, municipal preservation commissions, and organizations like Preservation New Jersey.

Category:New Jersey Register of Historic Places Category:Historic registers in the United States Category:New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Category:1970 establishments in New Jersey